Absolutely beautiful. We stayed in the camping cabanas. Super comfy, easy, everything we needed. Loved the outdoor bathroom with the waterfall shower. The property very quiet and with a sacred feel to it. Extremely well cared for and loved. Simple and beautiful aesthetics. Had access to a sweet waterfall amidst bamboo groves just a few yards down the road. View of the ocean, could hear the waves crashing, night sky full and blazing. Friendly staff, will definitely return if back on the big island.

We loved our stay in the Hamakua Guesthouse surrounded by the beautiful Hawaiian rainforest. We felt so welcomed and comfortable for our entire stay, and appreciated the very simple and clearly communicated check-in and check-out procedures. Such a lovely experience, and a great spot from which to explore nearby waterfalls, historic towns, and rugged coastlines!

Every single thing!!! this place is magic!!! I almost don’t want to share it with anyone to keep it for myself:) but also want more people to experience the magic of it and for this earth friendly, self sustainable, beautiful small business to thrive! I couldn’t even imagine the place this amazing! if you’re looking for all inclusive high end hotel - look further. but if you want to really experience island life in its natural habitat - this off grid gem in the middle of the rainforest offers all you can need and so much more! I lack words to describe how amazing this place is. there’s 5-6 rooms in the main house where you share kitchen, living, and two bathrooms with other guests (never were any inconvenience). one of the bathrooms is open air - you have to experience it! so magical!!! there’s also downstairs kitchen for the guests who are staying in cabanas. we had a great opportunity to experience both. our first night we spent in one of the cabanas - which, when I read what it is I was cautious - hammocks - hm, don’t know how that will work out - but it was amazing! and cabanas have all you need, and are very nice and protected. there’s also two grills and a beautiful porch for your bbq nights. big territory with fruit trees that are shared with guests on season, drinking water from the filter on tap, fridge, stove, all the needed kitchen supplies, complimentary coffee, and amazing atmosphere!!! while we we’re staying in the house we got to meet 5-6 cats that hang out outside and got to know manager Aaron - super friendly, helpful and just amazing person! Thanks for everything Aaron! there’s umbrellas (we never used), flashlights, bug spray, and even coolers and snorkeling gear you can borrow. the view is breathtaking! the drive is so beautiful, that it was a highlight of every morning!!! the rainforest in all its majesty on your way to and from the place! I’m definitely forgetting some things but just go there, and you will want to come back and stay nowhere else but there!! this place enhanced our experience of the island dramatically!!! i couldn’t have imagined or want something as magical and beautiful and authentic as Hamakua House and Camping Cabanas! Always in my heart!!! thank you so much for what you’ve built and how you maintain it! it’s with no exaggeration the best place to stay and experience big island ♥️♥️♥️

This is an amazing place to stay! Incredible view of the ocean from the balcony. We stayed in the room with the loft. Very cozy! The room was clean & the beds were very comfy. Great kitchen area & nice grills outside. The hosts were amazing & helpful. I would stay here every time!! Definitely recommend!

I was looking forward to this off the grid, communal experience but it was just too dirty to enjoy. The communal spaces except the upstairs living room and deck were so dirty. And while all the rules didn’t spoil my experience, they are not on the website and I think it could be detrimental to some: no hair dryers or curling irons, no linens except one blanket per bed, quiet hrs are 9pm - 8 am (no kitchen use even allowed). There was no hot water— only warm ish. I personally loved all the cats but I’m guessing not everyone would. We also never received the breakfast vouchers we were told we would receive.

We love this place. We go there every year. The rustic setting and privacy are amazing. The swimming hole on the property, unreal. The company we’ve had in years past has been second to none.

Love how environmentally friendly they are. Staff was nice. Location was absolutely amazing. Easy self check in and out. Directions to location were difficult. Also a little hard to get to by car with possible damage due to the road.

A hidden gem in Hilo. Accommodation in Hawaii is usually very expensive but the cabanas were very cheap and such an incredible experience. The kitchens were fully stocked and clean, the staff were incredibly kind and friendly and the hammocks were very comfortable! Please stay here if you have a chance, you will not regret it. Thank you for everything

First of all what an absolutely memorable experience in the best way possible. Me and my friend came to Hamakua house with stars in our eyes and the twinkle did not waiver after arriving to the home. There is a sense of commmunity you feel immediately as you set foot on the property. At times it’s complete peace, other times it is a bustling energy that you would feel at your home around Christmas time! While in Hawaii most travelers have tons of things planned, but the thing I loved most about Hamakua House was that when we came back to get our bearings it was absolute bliss and like time froze so we could route out our next adventure. The organization and planning that went into this operation is quite evident and you will be so appreciative of that once you see it for yourself. We had the pleasure of meeting, I believe the owner and house manager, and it was a joy due totally to their warmth and willingness to make us feel at ease. The room-clean and cozy The outdoor bathroom- absolutely “rustic” and so relaxing(I suggest showering at night at least once) The kitchen- clean and organized(when I come back going to utilize more than I did this trip!) The property- for me is the main attraction we saw a sky lit off with stars multiple night, sunrises that blow you away, and a waterfall a short walk away that has healing properties. Mr Ed’s bakery- this is where your breakfast voucher will lead you for yummy food and great coffee😋 and kind people❤️ I could go on. Thankyou so much for making one of my first lengthy travel experiences so enjoyable and unique!!!

Super relaxing off-grid accommodation. The house was well-equipped, and very quiet and relaxing even with other guests staying in another room. We had a great time, and plan to stay here again someday. The booking process was easy, and the communication we received was very intentional and timely.

My husband and I went to Hawaii to renew our vows of 25 years. We stayed here for 4 days. This was the coolest place to experience. The house was beautiful. We were in natures beauty. If you want a true Hawaiian experience I highly recommend. This made our experience remarkable! Even though we didn’t see the host they were incredible.

What a beautiful place to stay, and the views are incredible! Spacious room with a lot of amenities; there's even a private waterfall that is great for swimming. Highly recommended!

Stayed three nights at one of the standard cabanas. Staff were very helpful. Loved the ukelele and books in the TV room. The cats were friendly and even visited my cabana one morning. I appreciate that they told us beforehand not to store food in the cabanas because of the humidity, and also because of the pets potentially coming in. My tips for future visitors: Bring dry shampoo. Their bathrooms don’t allow hair dryers as they cause outages as some others pointed out. Bring earplugs. Hilo is rainy and it rained every night when I was there. Raindrops were loud on the ceiling! I was literally woken up in midnight.

Great authentic Hawaii rainforest experience! Well furnished, clean, and excellent service. Only issue is that for those who want a standard hotel room in terms of ease of access, this out-of-the-way location would present a challenge.

We had an enjoyable stay at Hamakua Guest house. We stayed in the loft room with our two daughters, and were quite comfortable in the room. The communal space was very comfortable, with two bathrooms on the main floor, a kitchen, dining area and front deck. There were also eating and sitting areas outside. The property was lovely and peaceful, and the hosts were very welcoming.

Great location! A hidden gem close to many other hidden gems just outside of Hilo. We truly enjoyed our stay at the Hamakua Guesthouse. We felt comfortable, safe, and at home during our stay. The complimentary breakfast at Mr. Ed's Bakery was delicious and very filling. The complimentary earplugs provided were helpful for sleep during the rainy nights. We had a beautiful view of the ocean from our room, as well as from the shared living space. Jane was very informative and a wonderful host! The rest of the staff were kind, as well. Our room, as well as the shared spaces, were all tidy and very clean. I highly recommend staying here if you are looking for something more laid-back and off the grid.

We loved staying here for a night. The check-in, check-out process was easy. The room was clean. The house is quiet. The property was beautiful and we enjoyed the cats that hang around the house. I would stay here again.

This is very much a you get what you pay for experience. We thought this was a fun and unique experience overall. The open air bathroom wasn’t quite as much privacy as I would’ve preferred while showering but the location is fairly secluded and we were able to kinda make a curtain with our towels. The cabanas aren’t super secure but they do have a lock box for valuables and we had no issues leaving our items there. I will say the provided towels and linens are a bit more worn than most people would prefer. We brought and used our own linens since we stayed in other camping locations on our trip that didn’t include linens. We had no issues with noise or bugs during our stay. We enjoyed the outdoor cats and there was lots of outdoor seating. We also appreciated that there was beach gear and coolers that could be borrowed. The road to the cabanas is a bit rough but you shouldn’t have issues if you go slow.

This place is a hidden gem. The location is just beautiful. The ocean views were amazing. We stayed in the Guesthouse and had breakfast included. The breakfast was for a voucher at a local place (Mr. Ed’s) that had yummy pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and cookies. We also had use of a refrigerator and kitchen if needed at the guesthouse, and had some snacks in our room to welcome us. Even though it is off the grid, it still had all the conveniences of home. I was worried about mosquitoes but never had any issues. The managers also gave us great recommendations for things to do in the Island. We would definitely seek out this place to stay again. Chrissie

Had a magical time, the land was beautiful, self sufficient and you have an array of fruit trees and a swimming hole wiht waterfall all to yourself. The host houston and his dog critter were amazing to me and my children and extremely resourceful with fun local things to do as well as the history of the island. It is the prefect place to relax off the grid and reconnect with nature and family. Definitley coming back .. =)

This is an amazing place to stay so unique and peaceful. Would reccomend to anyone who loves to have adventures in nature . You will not be disappointed

We stayed in one of the cabanas and they were very cosy! The vibe is more like young person hostel rather than hotel and we really liked that. Everyone was super nice and the upstairs shower is a real treat 😊

We loved the stay in our cabana #5 which was furthest from the guesthouse. We actually had enough room in the middle to set up our air mattress that we blew up using the outlets in the main house. We loved being able to use the propane grill for dinner and then some French press coffee in the morning. The waterfall area does have mosquitoes so spray before you go and enjoy the amazing water spot! You’ll hear coqui frogs at night and birds in the morning so bring earplugs if you need them…We really enjoyed the sunrise and seeing the stars. Everyone we met there was friendly. Mahalo!

Great experience! We flew in a day earlier than we could check-in at our timeshare so we decided to try something new and different. A Hāmākua cabana was just what we were looking for, sleeping in the open air on the hammocks were absolutely refreshing with beautiful sunrise views!

We have been enjoying our staff here. The place is off the grid and uses only solar power and the water from the rain. Our room has an amazing view. There is no ac, however once you get in your room, open all the windows and it starts cooling off. You redeem your free breakfast at another location, it's back in the little town you drive thru to get here. The store is called Mr. Ed's bakery, we have enjoyed it. They offer a breakfast sandwich, cookies or pastry. All is good so you cannot go wrong with whatever you pick. I would definitely stay here again.